The monarch butterfly has a treacherous journey

The monarch butterfly has a treacherous journey

At Environment Action, we think monarch butterflies rule. They’re an important pollinator, but that’s not all. Will you help save these beloved butterflies?

These tiny, beloved butterflies are a cheerful reminder of the beauty of our natural world. And — unfortunately — our monarchs are becoming more scarce. Today, you can help us protect the habitat they need to survive their long — and increasingly perilous — migrations.

The Mighty Monarch Butterfly

A monarch butterfly weighs less than a gram — about as much as a paper clip — but every year, they make a 3000 mile journey.

But climate change, pesticides, and deforestation all make the monarch butterflies’ already long migration a treacherous journey — and many aren’t succeeding.1 Monarch butterfly populations have dropped 90 percent since their peak in the 1990s.2

The Threat to Monarchs

Monarch butterflies are an iconic species, and their trek through the heartland of the United States to their winter homes in California and Mexico is already incredible even without the obstacles they face.

According to a new article published in Science, the effects of climate change and other hazards are turning the 3,000-mile journey of the monarchs from difficult to impossible.3 The dangers they face run from from colliding with cars, to losing their milkweed habitats (and the only source of food for their caterpillars) due to pesticides like Roundup.4

How Your Can Help

From local action like planting milkweed in our communities, to working to ban Roundup, to combating climate change and deforestation — there’s a lot to do.

Environmental Action | Since 1970

Founded at the first Earth Day with a mission to protect the planet and all of us who live on it, we are Environmental Action. We stand up to big polluters, take on the corrupt politicians and give everyone in America a chance to be an environmentalist with simple, powerful actions. Ready to take action for the planet? You're in the right place.